--- title: "Crustaceans: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "Crustaceans are shellfish with jointed shells, such as shrimp, crab, lobster and crayfish. They are a major allergen in both the EU and the US." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crustaceans" --- # Crustaceans Crustaceans are shellfish with jointed shells, such as shrimp, crab, lobster and crayfish. They are a major allergen in both the EU and the US. Also called Crustacean shellfish, Crustacean allergy. Crustaceans are shellfish with a hard, jointed outer shell. The group includes shrimp ([prawns](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/shrimp) in the UK), crab, lobster, crayfish (crawfish), langoustine and krill. A crustacean allergy is one of the most common seafood allergies in adults, and cooking does not destroy the proteins that cause it. A doctor can confirm the allergy and tell you what to avoid. ## How to use it Both the EU and the US treat crustaceans as a major allergen: * In the EU and the UK, crustaceans are one of the [14 allergens](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/eu-14-allergens) and must be emphasized in the ingredients list. * In the US, crustacean shellfish are one of the [nine major allergens](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/us-major-allergens), and the label must name the species, such as "shrimp" or "crab". The rules differ for [mollusks](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/molluscs) such as mussels, squid and oysters. The EU lists them as a separate allergen, but the US does not count them as a major allergen. Some people who react to crustaceans also react to mollusks. Ask an allergist which you need to avoid. ## Common mistakes * Picking shrimp out of a dish. The proteins stay in the sauce. * Sharing frying oil. Fried food can pick up shellfish protein from oil used for shrimp tempura or breaded scampi. * Ignoring cooking steam. Some people react to the vapor from boiling or steaming shellfish. * Assuming a dish without visible seafood is safe. Pastes and sauces can contain dried shrimp. ## In recipes Look for crustaceans in these less obvious places: * Shrimp paste, which is used in many Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian curry pastes and sambals * Dried shrimp in Chinese and Southeast Asian cooking, and in some XO sauce * Some fish sauce brands, which add shrimp; [fish sauce](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/fish-sauce)is usually made from anchovies * Seafood stocks, bisque, gumbo and [paella](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/paella) * Imitation crab (surimi), which may contain crab extract If you have a crustacean allergy, read labels every time, ask in restaurants how dishes are made, and talk to a doctor about a plan for accidental exposure. ## Recipes free from it 3712 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chicken-Eggplant-Parmesan-9.jpg)Chicken Eggplant Parmesanwww.skinnytaste.com · 35 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-eggplant-parmesan/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Roasted-Red-Pepper-Hummus-12.jpg)Roasted Red Pepper Hummuswww.skinnytaste.com · 10 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/chick-pea-and-roasted-pepper-dip/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lazy-Deviled-Egg-Salad-8.jpg)Lazy Deviled Egg Salad Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 46 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/deviled-egg-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Blueberry-Peach-Crisp-9.jpg)Blueberry Peach Crispwww.skinnytaste.com · 55 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/blueberry-peach-crisp/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Arugula-Salad-3.jpg)Arugula Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/arugula-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/low-fat-tomato-vinaigrette.jpg)Red Wine Tomato Vinaigrettewww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-red-wine-tomato-vinaigrette/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Lemon-Viniagrette-5.jpg)Lemon Vinaigrette Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/lemon-vinaigrette/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/Roasted-Chickpeas_09.jpg)Roasted Chickpeaswww.skinnytaste.com · 45 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-chickpea-snack-2-pts/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Insalata-Caprese-6.jpg)Caprese Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/caprese-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Vegan-Egplant-Meatballs.jpg)Vegan Eggplant Meatballswww.skinnytaste.com · 80 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/vegan-eggplant-meatballs/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Air-Fryer-Chicken-Nuggets-1-6.jpg)Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 15 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/air-fryer-chicken-nuggets/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/roast-beef.jpg)Roast Beef and Gravywww.skinnytaste.com · 70 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/roast-beef-4-ww-pts/) ## Related terms * [MollusksMollusks are soft-bodied shellfish such as mussels, clams, oysters, squid and octopus. They are an EU allergen but not a major allergen in the US.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/molluscs) * [Fish allergyA fish allergy is a reaction to proteins in finned fish such as salmon, cod and tuna. It is separate from shellfish allergy and labeled in the EU and US.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/fish-allergy) * [ShrimpPrawns and shrimp are small shellfish that cook in two to three minutes. Americans say shrimp for almost all of them, Britons and Australians say prawn.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/shrimp) * [EU 14 allergensThe EU 14 allergens are the foods that EU and UK law says must be emphasized on food labels and declared by restaurants, from gluten to lupin.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/eu-14-allergens) * [US major allergensThe US major food allergens are nine foods that must be named on US labels, from milk, eggs and peanuts to wheat, soy and, since 2023, sesame.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/us-major-allergens) [More in diets and allergens](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/diets-and-allergens)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)